Food Review: Francesco's Pizzeria, Kemp's Corner

What did Mikhail do when his Italian client could not take any more of those factory produced pizzas? He opened his own small pizzeria and named it after his client Francesco. I along with a colleague tried a few slices to know whether it’s another run-of-the-mill joint or something more.

Tucked behind A Chocolate Affair in Kemps Corner, Francesco’s Pizzeria focuses more on takeaways and home deliveries. There’s also a small seating area for the hungrier souls who want to eat their pizzas straight from the oven. Brick wall on one side and a poster from Italy on the other, this place makes for a cute little hangout. Mikhail, whose original business is importing and distributing wines from Italy, made a number of people try the pizzas he was planning on serving. So, the menu we chose from and the one you will too is based on honest feedback from like-minded gluttons.

The menu lists a range of pizzas and we started off with the vegetarian section. Paneer peri peri came first and I absolutely loved it. The crust was neither too thick nor wafer thin and was topped with a tomato based sauce, very soft paneer, and a mayonnaise dressing made in-house from their very own secret recipe. I couldn’t keep my hands off it and burrp’s new intern Shraddha, who was excited to be on her first food review, even saved a piece for the last bite. The eggplant parmigiana that came next didn’t go down too well. I would’ve liked it if the eggplant slices were crispy, something like a Bengali baingan bhaja.

We ordered a garden pizza next which came strongly recommended by Mikhail and was topped with rocket leaves and cherry tomato sans any cheese. Not a big fan of rocket leaves and put off by their weird smell, we didn’t enjoy it as much but if you are diet conscious this one is just for you (‘no cheese’ being the magic words). As far as we are concerned, we’ll happily kick our diet plans in a corner for a slice of cheesy pizza.

Aware of my love for fish Mikhail enthusiastically ordered a Bianca. Due to the five types of cheese and salmon, Bianca tasted too salty and I could only eat a bite off it. Shraddha, a chickenatarian (yes, she recently invented this word) preferred a Chicken Genovese from the non-veg menu. The chicken was blended in pesto and was extremely tender. The pizza was topped with potato wafers which went a little soggy but we didn’t mind them at all.

Already stuffed with some ten odd slices of pizza we decided to order a Margherita since we strongly believe that a perfect Margherita is a pizzeria’s true test. And, going by what we were served, this place is already a winner.

Since we had to catch a tasting at Haagen Dazs we tried to skip the dessert section but no amount of pleading deterred Mikhail from ordering a tiramisu cupcake and chocolate bomb. The sight of tempting cupcakes made us melt too but to our disappointment they didn’t taste as good as they looked. As we dug deeper we found it too moist and undercooked. The chocolate bomb or cinnamon role was average but we would’ve preferred it with a more generous filling of chocolate.

While you might not like all the pizzas, there’s one for every palate. If Indian toppings of tikkas and tandoors make you go “arrggh” then, Francesco’s Pizzeria is a must try.

Kharcha: Around Rs. 600 + taxes for two

On the burp scale: 3.5/5

Food Review: Melange, Andheri (W) (New Link Road, next to CitiMall)

Good breakfast is the key to a good day. A strong believer of this theory, I, went to the newly opened Melange to review their breakfast and had a very happy day indeed.

The space next to Citimall in Andheri (W) earlier dominated by diners like Salt ‘n’ Pepper and Ginger Marie has now been taken over by dessert and breakfast places like Bru World Café and The Chocolate Room. With Melange opening here, this area is surely going to attract people who love their breakfasts king size.

Like most of the adjacent eateries, Melange too has an outdoor and air conditioned seating. Despite the heat we decided to sit in the open air section and couldn't stop wondering how lovely this place would be in the monsoons.

There are separate menus for breakfast, tapas and mains and beverages. The beverage one is extensive and has a whole range of shakes, coolers, smoothies, and hot coffees. We quickly ordered a lemon n mint mojito and an oreo shake before focusing on the breakfast menu.  The mojito was refreshing with a mild chilli aftertaste, exactly what we needed on a hot day like this, while the Oreo shake was not cold enough and was a little too sweet.

Moving on from drinks we ordered a Melange special breakfast which includes eggs, toasts, avocado, and baked tomatoes. On our request, we were served a wild omelette instead of scrambled, poached or fried eggs. A generous portion of omelette topped with spinach and mushrooms came with four thick slices of bread, baked in house, an avocado and two plump tomatoes. All we missed on this plate was bacon but being an eggetarian place you shouldn't expect it or maybe they change their mind…maybe.

Next on our list was the breakfast burger with hash browns and onion marmalade.  The burger was stuffed with cucumber, tomatoes and a couple of hash browns, topped with onion and tomato sauce and was heavy enough to make me skip my lunch. The bread to our surprise was toasted which reminded me of the burgers I used to eat in my school days. If you’ve grown up in a small town and aren't used to the mass produced burger, you’ll know what I am talking about. The rocket, served on the side, was tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing and added a distinct freshness to the dish.

After downing a fat omelette and a big burger, as we were planning to call for the cheque we spotted green apple crème brulee in the menu and couldn’t help but order it. The dessert came with almond biscotti, fresh cream, and green apple chutney and alone is worth a trip to Andheri. That’s not all they have, there are cheesecakes, chocolate mousse, and pancakes too, waiting to be eaten.

Stuffed with a hearty breakfast we decided to move out but not before asking for the owner who we hear is a very sweet guy. Sadly he wasn't in. Never mind, we are definitely going back for a chat with him…and yes, for those pancakes too.

Kharcha: Rs. 600 + taxes for two

On the burp scale: 4/5

Food Review: Saibini Gomantak, Dadar (W) (Near Shiv Sena Bhavan)

I love fish and if its made Gomantak style I wouldn't ask for anything else. No seriously, my colleagues have noticed that I don't bother conversing while I am being fed a good fish curry and bhakri. So when the bhukkads at work planned on going to Saibini, a small gomantak joint in Dadar West (thanks to Tanya for the suggestion) I happily ignored my boring dabba.

This place is right next to Sena Bhavan and is not very well known (unless you are a regular in that area). The no frills restaurant has a very small entrance. Once you cross the non AC section there's a small AC room with four tables. We quickly settled ourselves and ordered as if we were playing rapid fire.

Within 10 minutes of ordering, our food started coming in; hot and crispy prawns rawa fry, mori masala, teesrya in green masala, bhakri, and rice. The prawns were very fresh and had a crisp coating of rawa. The dish made me wonder how well it'll go with a mug of chilled beer. Mori or shark masala was made in thick gravy and was extremely spicy. Eat it with rice if you must. The fact that it has just one bone in the centre made it easier to eat.

Teesrya or clams was made in a thick green masala which we didn't enjoy too much. The red masala one that we tried the next day was much better and enhanced teesrya's flavour. They serve a thin curry with roti/bhakri which is excellent. We also used it as a dip with our fried prawns. 

To sum up the meal we ordered sol kadi which was a little on the spicier side and wasn't as tangy.

After hogging for almost 45 minutes we dragged ourselves back to work but not before we stopped at Aswad for their melt in mouth pedas.

Kharcha: Around 400/- for two

On the burp scale: 4/5

Food Review: Bindaas Binge, Goregaon East (On Filmcity Road)

We living in Goregaon (E) are starved; starved of good food, good desserts and above all, great cheesecakes. The presence of Monginis adds salt to the already aching wound by serving horrible cakes. There's Birdy's at a stone's throw away but they have compromised their quality by opening innumerable franchise all over the city. So when I say that Bindaas Binge is a Godsend, I meant it from the deepest corner of my stomach.

The bakery with a bright yellow and brown logo is started by a couple Mona and Vikas Diwan (God bless them and the bakery). They've created a space above the shop which is their manufacturing unit. So if the door of the kitchen is open when you walk in you'll be welcomed with a whiff of lovely bakes. During a quick conversation with Mona while I downed a heavenly blueberry cheesecake, she told me that the idea of opening a bakery crossed her mind while she was sitting at home and learning to bake.

The menu includes a range of pastries, cakes and cheesecakes including blueberry and choco strawberry mascarpone but the highlight is Philadelphia cheesecake which is soft as cheese with a perfectly baked crust. They also have cupcakes but I have yet to try them. For the fitness freaks there are whole wheat cookies and freshly baked breads. The latest addition to the menu is Alphonso cheesecake. It has the topping of fresh alphonso slices and the flavour is 100% mango.

Although Moshe's has opened in Infiniti Mall in Malad and has made its Philadelphia cheesecake available to the lesser mortals of this side of suburbs, their prices are steep. I'd rather pay 100 bucks and save on the petrol too instead of paying 200 bucks at Moshe's. And, as Deepikaji said, "Jab wahi safedi, wahi jhaag kam damon mein mile, to koi wo kyon le? ye na le?"

Kharcha: Rs. 100 for a Philadelphia cheesecake

On the burp scale: 4/5

Food Hunt: Matunga Food Trail - In Search for Sappadu

this article was first published on burrp!
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South Indian food lovers of the city, move beyond Mysore Café and Café Madras because Matunga (E) has a lot more to offer when it comes to a delicious and fulfilling sappadu.

In a place like Matunga where every second shop sells great coffee and the smallest restaurant makes delicious idlis it was tough to pick few best places. Still, I followed my nose and listened to the voices (grumbling that is) coming from my hungry tummy and hopped in to four South Indian joints to eat a hearty meal.

Arya Bhavan
Right opposite Matunga station, this restaurant is a no nonsense place. Get in, eat, burrp and get out. There are two levels of seating. The upper level keeps you away from the crowd and chaos of the street but if you are a centimeter taller than 5’4” I’d say that you sit on the ground level. Why? You’ll know once you visit the place.

The food starts coming in within five minutes of placing your order. Wadas dipped in piping hot rasam and coin idlis are the best to start with. Don’t forget to order ghee and gun powder (dry chutney made with groundnuts and chilly powder) with your bite sized idlis. Idiyappam with coconut stew and paniyaram are good for the second round. Make sure you are served both red and green chutneys. Bisibele Bhaat at the end will sum up the meal just fine. It’s ok if you give your dosa a miss; after all South Indian food is not just about idlis, dosas and uttappams. If the food induces sleep you can always have a cup of filter kaapi.
Kharcha: Less than Rs 100 for one

Mani’s Lunch Home
As me and my colleagues stepped in to this restaurant, one of us asked, “khane mein kya milega?” “Khana”, pat came the reply. Yes, this place is that direct. Mani’s Lunch Home is located in a very old building in one of the small lanes (the one with the temples and the flower market) of Matunga East and is hard to spot. But if you ask around you’ll be pointed in the right direction.

Lunch time is the best time to go there for the South Indian thali. It’s unlimited and you can hog as much as you can. A regular thali includes rasam, sambhar, kadhi, two vegetables that change every day, curd, achar, papad, chapati and rice followed by chaas and Mysore Pak for dessert. The food is homemade, less spicy and a complete VFM. Be cautious or the over enthusiastic waiter will keep serving you and you’ll end up with a bloated tummy.
Kharcha: Rs 100 for a thali

Photo courtsey - @ceetee

A Ramanayak Udipi Shri Krishna Boarding
This restaurant with a never ending name is bang opposite Arya Bhavan and serves thali during lunch time. Unlike Mani’s the food here is served on a banana leaf. Dishes are more or less the same with wider range of sweets available like gulab jamun, gajar halwa, shrikhand etc.

There’s no concept of having-the-whole-table-for-yourself here. You might have to sit next to a stranger who might get a little too authentic with his eating style.
Kharcha: Rs 100 for one

Ayyappan Dosa Stall
If you are not one of those hoity-toity types you’ll love this roadside stall which is packed at all times of the day. There’s no place to sit hence you have to stand and eat. The order is served within five minutes. The must tries on their menu are pongal, upma, Mysore dosa, medu wada and dal wada. The food is bound to leave you utterly satisfied.
Kharcha: Less than Rs 100for one

Next time you are around Matunga make sure you eat at one of these places. And on your way back home you can pick up some filter coffee, Mysore Pak and South Indian ingredients from the market.

Food Hunt: Well tossed

The sweltering Mumbai heat has reduced my appetite and it’s no surprise then that I hit the salad menus with a vengeance.

I am a salad lover, give me any leaf with good dressing and I’ll gobble it down. But when it came to hunting for the best salad places I decided to go beyond the regular Caesar and Greek and try the experimental ingredients. So, when the heat beats you down and you can’t take any of those spicy and oily meals, head to one of these places for a quick and light lunch.

WHAT'S HOT

Pali Village Café, Bandra
The quaint restaurant in Bandra is more famous for its ambience than food but what bowled me over was their salad menu especially watermelon and pickled feta salad topped with mint, lemon and olive oil. At first it may seem like an odd combination. But the melon’s sweetness and the feta’s saltiness is a divine combination.

For the meat lovers roast duck salad with mixed greens and raspberry vinaigrette is highly recommended. Order a glass of white wine with it and you are recharged for the day.

Salt Water Café, Bandra
Salt Water Cafe was my second destination¬¬¬. From their extensive menu my pick was
Spinach + arugula + orange segments + pistachio + sesame granola salad. The orange dressing was the highlight here. You can also add prawns to it but you'll have to pay extra for that.

Roast tenderloin, shiitake, water chestnuts salad is a must try just for the beef. The Asian style dressing is light and doesn't overpower the principal ingredient.

The Tasting Room, Lower Parel
Even after having the watermelon salad at Pali Village Cafe I wasn't quite satisfied and couldn't stop myself from ordering water melon and feta cheese salad at The Tasting Room. I quite liked the topping of pine nuts but the taste of the bitter lettuce kind of leaves put me off. Minus them the salad was almost perfect.

Smoke House Deli, Lower Parel
Smoke House Deli by far has the most fulfilling salad - smoked fig with cherry tomatoes, grapefruit, lettuce and pine nuts. The sweet and sour flavours made the salad taste like pickle. A welcome change from the regular vinegar dressing.

Bonobo, Bandra
Bonobo's newly launched menu has some decent salads on it and looked tempting too. I tried the double melon + greek feta salad which had melon balls instead of big slabs making it easier to eat. This one too had the awful tasting leaves that I had in The Tasting Room.

The warm chive and pickled beet salad was something that I can eat at any given time. The orange pieces were refreshing and I absolutely loved the addition of macadamia nuts.

WHAT'S NOT

Eat Around The Corner, Bandra
The place once famous for its salad bar has completely lost its charm post revamp. Their portions are negligible and dressing barely there. Looks like their idea of cost saving is to cut down on feta cheese.

The Irish House, Lower Parel
If you happen to go there for power lunch please order anything except coriander and lemon marinated mushroom salad for the second course. The salad is a mix of bitter lettuce and over citrusy mushrooms. The strong vinegar might even give you a headache.

With all the lovely combinations available I say that you keep it light this summer. They might burn a hole in your pocket but its way better than burning a hole in your stomach. For cheaper options you can always head to Subway and have one of their veggie delite.

Food Hunt: Lunching in Lower Parel

Those who work in Lower Parel know that it’s a foodie’s haven and it’s a task to decide on a place for lunch; Copper Chimney has the best Punjabi chicken; but then again CPK makes the perfect meat cravers pizza. To put you out of that dilemma I've picked up the best places for lunch with recommendations on what to eat or what not to eat.

Crystal, next to Phoenix Towers
The twin of the Crystal restaurant in Chowpatty opened in Lower Parel almost a year back and has stayed true to its reputation of serving delicious and cheap food. The menu is strictly North Indian hence has been a life saver for most of the bachelors and bachelorettes who’ve migrated to Mumbai.

A standard order should include dal makhani, baingan bharta, paneer bhurji and freshly made tawa rotis. Rajma chawal, gobhi parantha and mixed parantha are a must try. Of course you would feel a strong urge to take a nap after that. Before heading back to work we recommend you eat their kheer; yes, even if you are full and about to burst. The bowls filled with thick, creamy and delicious kheer will transport you to heaven…wait…come back, pay the bill and leave; there are hungry people waiting outside.
Cost: Around 300/- for two

Jai Hind Lunch Home, opposite Kamala Mills
It’s Lower Parel’s answer to Mahesh Lunch Home at Fort and is a lot cheaper. Make sure you reach early or else the lunch time might stretch to a good one and a half hour.

The first three pages of the seafood menu are enough to get your mouth salivating and if you get past them you’ll find the tikkas and dal tadka’s. But I’ll keep that for next time and will stick to the machhi fries instead. Bombil, surmai or bangda fry is what you should start with. If you don’t like your Bombay Duck talela then have it bharela; bombil pakodas stuffed with tiny and spicy kardi prawns. Move on to the main course section where seafood made Konkan, Coastal Karnataka and Goan style awaits you. The meen gassi is really mean and the prawns pulimunchi with neer dosa will make you loosen up your belt. No, we really mean it. The sole kadhi here is not as tangy as you get in other places but does the job right.
Cost: Around 700/- for two
Caution: The food here induces sleep so please visit on days when you are not loaded with work.

Smoke House Deli, Phoenix Mills
Have a business meeting lined up? Smoke House Deli is the perfect place to sit and talk while you eat. Also, a good choice if you are planning to impress a client. The all white interiors are a relief on a hot afternoon.

There’s an interesting choice of soups and we would recommend the tomato and lemon grass broth which is light on the palette and stomach. Salads need a special mention for their sheer innovativeness. Try the smoked fig salad that comes with grape fruit, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and lettuce. Order it with a glass of wine and if you are not in the mood for alcohol then ask for the coriander, aragula and grape juice; something worth trying.

There isn’t much for the vegetarians except pasta when it comes to the main course. The carnivores should order a steak or better still a Cambodian basa; crispy from outside and tender from the inside.

Desserts aren’t too promising especially the tiramisu. Chocolate walnut cake is the safer bet.
Cost: Around Rs 2000/- for two sans alcohol

The Tasting Room, Raghuvanshi Mills
A short walk inside Raghuvanshi Mills, all the way till the end and there sits the quiet and cosy restaurant inside the Good Earth store. The setting and ambience is perfect for an evening out but we wouldn’t mind going there for lunch either.

There is an extensive wine bar so be seated if you have a good two hours to spare. A bruschetta platter is the perfect antipasti with bell peppers and artichokes for topping. If you plan to order a soup we’d recommend the classic minestrone; light and fresh and won’t make you feel full. Their best selling watermelon and feta cheese salad is worth all the praises and money. Topped with pine nuts it’ll do you good in this hot summer.

Call for a chorizo if you are a pork lover or stick to basa. Avoid roasted Cajun chicken if you can which tastes good from the outside but loses flavour once you dig deeper. Open ravioli is recommended for vegetarians but only if you like a lot of pesto.

The dessert menu is something we can drool over, literally. Their orange flavoured crème brulee is what you must order.
Cost: Around Rs 1800/- for two without drinks

The Irish House, Phoenix Mills
The sprawling Irish bar might not look like a perfect place for lunch but their power lunch is something you should definitely try. The four course lunch starts with soup du jour or soup of the day. The soups are generally decent but please avoid the baked bean soup which tastes like boiled rajma. Second course has five salads to choose from. If you pick coriander and lemon marinated mushroom salad do ask them go easy on the citrus flavour because we actually shuddered while eating it.

For the third course you can choose from entrees, pastas or sandwiches. The king steak which is a fish preparation is highly recommended but go for a pasta linguine in puttanesca sauce if you don’t want to end up feeling hungry after an hour. The fourth course of dessert hasn’t got much to talk about. Warm walnut brownie isn’t warm enough and panacotta with mix berry compote is too creamy.

The food is not a winner here but for Rs 350 it’s not a bad deal either. Add Rs 95 to it and get a pint of beer too.
Cost: Rs 350/- per person for the Power Lunch

You might not always have enough time to sit and have a complete meal. Sometimes you just need to grab something on the go. For such days head to Maroosh and have one of their chicken shawarmas. The humus is one of the best in Mumbai. Tibbs Frankie does not need any recommendation. Pack two frankies and you are good for the day. Subway is a good option too even though they have discontinued there sub of the days.

But don’t let work always dictate where you eat and what you eat. On lethargic Fridays and those grumpy Saturdays when you have to come to work make sure you hit one of these spots for some soul stirring food.